The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-09

DuSneS anu great roar Ol tuuuuel Loi-
lowed it as if in search of the hidden
''pickct.' Neither rain, nor lightning,
nor thunder nor the anxious question:
ings of the Sergeant discovered him.
There he was, or must have been, dead
or alive, for he had said ''halt," but that
was apparently all he had to say.
The Sergeant splashed his way back
to the hand car, using very strong Ian
guage, and it was decided to so forward.
"We're just as likely to be fired into,
first thing" remarked the Paymaster's
clerk, and they'd hit some of us, sure !"
Both of the paymasters agreed with
him, and one expressed his satisfaction
that the box containing the greenbacks
was waterproof.
"That's moro than I am" said one of
the soldiers. "This 'er rains got through
my roof. can feel it trickle down in
side of me-"
The hand-car was not propelled rapid
ly after that. but the lightning and
thunder worked harder than ever. Per-
haps half mile had been gained, when
another voice, on the left this time and
not so near, b It equally hoarse and per-
emptory, shouted:
Halt
Other words which seemed to follow
were swallowed up by wide-mouthed
clap of thunder, and so was the Ser
gcant 8 prompt response, but in an in
slant he was among the bushes.
The first We heard from him was:
"Bovs, it's up to my waist and getting
deeper"
$50 on, Sergeant" shouted one of the
paymasters. "Thcy'll be shooting at US
if they 1on't get an answers
"Hurrah for General Burnside! ="
squawked the Paymastcr's clerk, in a
vague effort to let any supposed picket
know which side he was on, but severe
sternness from the further end bade him:
'Shut up! Halt! Come along!"
"I'm comingw shouted the Sergeant.
'Friendl Paymaster."
"Shut up! Come along" responded
the threatening voice beyond him:
For full quarter OF an hour the Ser
geant gropcd and floundered among
those bushes. Again he used strong
language; very strong, indeed; but not
soul came to meet him, nor did another
word reply to his repeated requests that
the picket should advise him as to what
course he should take.
The party on the hand-car covered
under sheets and torrents and whole
mill. ponds of falling water, and hoped
that there might be cessation of the
flashes, so that any hidden
would be less able to shoot
straight.
II give it up" said the voice of the
Sergeant at last. He was only three
PAGES from the car, but he was invisible.
"The boys know who we are," said
one of the soldiers, "and we can 60 on;
bat it's au awful mean joke to play in
such rain as this"
"There's something more than that in
it," said one of the paymasters. ''There's
a trap of some kind. Well never get to
Morehead City"
"We'll 60 ahead, anyhow" said the
Sergeant. There's as much danger be.
hind as there is BEFORE"
'T'm glad I hurrahed for Burnside"
the Paymaster's clerk.
On went the hsnd-car into the water
soaked darkness, and another mile or
more was rolled over before the wayside
summons was sonorously repeated.
"Quick, now, Sergeant!' said the
Senior Paymaster.
"Don't know, Major" he replied.
s'That fellows away into the swamp.
He's got under cover. couldn't even
find him. Risk it, Boys, risk it! Run
ahead. They can't hit US if they do
fire."
"Haltm came warningly out of the
blackness as the handcar dashed for
ward, and with it came thunder that
sounded like rattle of musketry.
"They didn't work their joke this
time. Major" said the Sergeant.
There's more than that in it." said
the Najor. I'm glad we're past that
picket, but I'm afraid we're running into
trouble. They may have surprised More
head City and the fort"
"Reckon not, Major. Run her your
level best, boys. We won't halt again
for anybody"
That was brave talk, but in less than
twenty minutes he exclaimed:
Hold on, hcys! That picket is right
on the track. Stop her for your lives"
They did so, as an ominous and menac-
ing throat repeated:
,TIalt Halt" and from the rear, at
the same moment, other voices seemed
to say:
"Got 'em! Got 'em now2"
'I'm afraid they have" groancd the
Major, money and all, and we're on our
way to Wilmington.
"No use to hurrah for Burnside this
time" squeaked the Paymaster's clerk.
The Sergeant ran ahead along the track
until he missed his footing in the dark
and went of into grimy depth of water
and black mud, just as somebody said:
"Who's therc2" and he was trying to
respond:
aFr:end. with the countcrsign."
His mouth has too much in it for sue
cess and once more he used strong and
very volcanic expressions as soon as his
vocal organs were at work again Then
we heard him say:
"Comc along. boys. There isn't any
body here, and the waters six inches
deep over the track"
1t was a doleful mystery, and the
chance of being fired into grew grisley
enough as the car was obviously urged
forward.
The ficrcencss Of the storm diminished,
and thus, with a great gust of wind from
Cape Hattcras, 1t ceased. More wind
oon,o ,nd su.onf oU-ov tho clouds The